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Act quickly – this is the last chance for the introductory bonus offer on the new TAP Miles&Go American Express® Credit Card. The bonus is about to drop by one-third, and the card is an intriguing tool for Star Alliance elite status. It’s also great for earning miles that can be used for improved award availability across the Atlantic and for good value awards on partners like Emirates.
The initial bonus offer on this card is about to drop. For card launch there is a limited-time offer of 60,000 points after $2,500 spend within 90 days. This is only available for approvals before November 30th and it is 50% larger than the regular bonus offer that will replace it. So, jump on this offer now.
It’s a great tool for Star Alliance status, with 20% of points earned on the card counting towards status, up to 10,000 status miles. (Points earned from the card’s initial bonus don’t count, but card spend on purchases will – not just at one point per dollar but spend in accelerator categories up to 3x, too.)
- It’s great for actually flying TAP Air Portugal – which I’ve found to offer some of the best fare sales across the Atlantic – with 2 free bags per year, 2 passes per year for use at TAP’s Lisbon airport lounge, and preferred boarding.
- And TAP Air Portugal partners with Emirates and doesn’t impose fuel surcharges on these tickets. What’s more, their pricing is more reasonable than you’ll find through most programs, listed at U.S. to Europe for 100,000 miles and to the Mideast for 115,000 miles each way in business class. The program’s access to economy award seats has been consistent, however for the past couple of years access to business class inventory hasn’t always been available.
- Moreover, TAP Air Portugal moved to flexible redemption pricing on its own flights, and that means more often than not it’s possible to find award space between the U.S. and Europe, and that their pricing for doing so can be lower than what U.S. airlines will charge for their own flights. That’s not something you can redeem for using partner miles – you need TAP’s own miles for this.
My favorite approach with TAP Air Portugal for Europe is redeeming miles to Europe and buying the ticket coming back. While we can’t be guaranteed what their future fares look like, they’ve been one of the best discounters across the Atlantic even in business class over the past several years.
They’ve had incredible one-way deals from Europe too, where it makes sense to redeem points for travel to Europe and buy the ticket coming back. This also means you need fewer miles for your travel, and earn miles in the process too.
The upfront limited-time offer, about to go away, is on its own worth multiples more in my view than the card’s $79 annual fee (see rates and fees) making applying for the TAP Miles&Go American Express® Credit Card an easy decision. And many of you will want to look more deeply at the Miles&Go program on an ongoing basis as foreign programs offer some of the best sweet spots in loyalty. Plus, it’s a Cardless product so great diversifying your card portfolio beyond the majors.
Gary,
Serious question, why do you support an airline that doesn’t honor eu261? I understand its to push credit cards, but there’s other cards you can push that would be better for everyone. TAP does not follow the laws. You literally sending business to a company that doesn’t care about their customers. I am one of hundreds of thousands that they screwed over. Courts find them accountable but they still refuse to pay. I understand that your partnership requires you to push cards, but please send business to companies that follow the laws.
Is there some reason I cannot use these miles for several domestic trips on United?
TAP is ok, except when there are IROPs. They run and hide. They won’t answer the phone. Won’t respond and if you are ever lucky to reach anyone, it’s transferred all over then hung up on. They don’t respond to emails. The best you’ll get is a runaround. They are not to be trusted. The product is a fine product in business class and the Lisbon lounge is nice. But it’s a risk to fly them. Not saying that other airlines don’t have issues as well, but you’ll eventually likely get something resolved. With TAP, when things go wrong, you’re basically out of a ticket and have to find someone else, often at the highest last minute fare price. It’s just not worth it. They are not trustworthy.
I can’t get too excited about redemptions costing 250,000 apiece for r/t US-Portugal, in a time where a previous article called business class redemptions “wide open”. I’m going to pass on this card.